Integrated Pest Management

TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S
2

CropLife International
Policy on IPM

O VER VIEW
3

What is IPM?

Why is IPM Important?

Benefits of IPM

IPM C OMPONENT S
5

Overview

Prevention

Monitoring

Intervention

I P M S T R AT E G I E S A N D T O O L S
10 Overview
11 Setting an Economic Threshold
11 Protecting Natural Enemies
12 Selecting the Right Products
12 Using Products Responsibly
and Safely
13 Preventing Pest Resistance to
Crop Protection Products
PLANT SCIENCE
INDUS TR Y AND IPM
14 Overview
15 Stewardship and Training
CA SE S TUDIES
16 Thailand Boosts Fruit
Exports with IPM
17 Guatemala Pioneers
Responsible Use Training
17 West Africa Protects Cocoa
with Spray Service
18 Indian Farmers Benefit from
IPM Training
19 Europe Helps Protect
Farmers and Public Health

CROPLIFE INTERNATIONAL
POLICY ON IPM
CropLife International and its member companies
and associations support sustainable agriculture
to produce sufficient, affordable food and fiber in an
environmentally and socially sensitive manner. Our
goal is to maintain the natural resource base
for future generations.
We are committed to Integrated Pest Management
(IPM)an economically viable, environmentally
sound and socially acceptable approach to crop
protectionas defined by the International Code of
Conduct on Pesticide Management. It is the mission
of our member companies to provide customers
with safe and effective technologies to protect
against adverse effects caused by pests, diseases
and weeds.
Our member companies enable and encourage
the implementation of IPM by developing and
promoting appropriate products and services.
We cooperate with partners to develop and
test IPM strategies and programs as well as
provide education and training on the
sustainable use
of crop protection products. We measure and
communicate progress within our industry on
the adoption of the principles and values of
this declaration.

What is IPM?
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the
United Nations*, IPM means considering all available pest control
techniques and other measures that discourage the development
of pest populations, while minimizing risks to human health and
the environment.
For farmers, IPM is the best combination of cultural, biological and
chemical measures to manage diseases, insects, weeds and other
pests. It takes into account all relevant control tactics and methods
that are locally available, evaluating their potential cost-effectiveness.
IPM does not, however, consist of any absolute or rigid criteria. It is
a flexible system that makes good use of local resources and
the latest research, technology, knowledge and experience.

IPM allows farmers

to manage diseases,
insects, weeds and
other pests in a
cost-effective and
environmentally
sound way.

Ultimately, IPM is a site-specific strategy for managing pests in the

most cost-effective, environmentally sound and socially acceptable
way. Implementation of IPM lies with farmers, who adopt practices
they view as practical and valuable to their activities.

* Integrated Pest Management (IPM) means the careful consideration of all available pest control techniques and subsequent integration of
appropriate measures that discourage the development of pest populations and keep pesticides and other interventions to levels that are
economically justified and reduce or minimize risks to human health and the environment. IPM emphasizes the growth of a healthy crop
with the least possible disruption to agro-ecosystems and encourages natural pest control mechanisms. (FAO, 2012).

LO

BA L

Why
is IP M
POPULATION

I mportant?

GLOBAL
POPULATION

GLOBAL
POPULATION

THIS MEANS
FARMERS MUST

INCREASE
YIELDS
on existing
land

is on the rise
FOOD
DEMAND

n a bl y

FOOD
DaEndMAND

while

PROTECTING
BIODIVERSITY

therefore
so is

and looking after

the environment

FOOD
DEMAND
The demands of a growing world population
for food and fiber require farmers to
produce
more
existing
farmland. improvement
To increase
these crops
yieldson
requires
continuous
of agricultural technologies to minimize crop
losses. The challenge is to do this while
protecting the environment.
IPM is a big part of the solution. Increasingly it is
being adopted in both developed and developing
countries for long-term, sustainable agriculture
that achieves adequate, safe and quality food
production, improves farmer livelihoods and
conserves non-renewable resources.

IPM
PROVIDES
FA R M E R S
s LtaS i n a
W ITH Tsu
O O
b
ly
s
u
st
A N D S TRATEGIES
TO

IPM PROVIDES FARMERS WITH

TEGIES TO
sustainably
TOOLS AND STRA

s ustain
sustainablsyustainasbulystainab ly
sustainably
ably

MAXIMIZE
PRODUCTION

and

MINIMIZE
LOSSES
due to insects,
weeds and diseases

Benefits of IPM
IPM provides multiple benefits for society and the environment.
It is vital for the long-term future of the plant science industry.

Improved crop profitability due to better

pest control measures and appropriate use
of crop protection products

Crop protection companies that integrate IPM

principles into marketing and customer support
for their products also stand to benefit from:

Stable, reliable and quality crop yields

Sustained market share and access

Decreased severity of pest infestations

Less risk of restrictions or deregistration

Reduced potential for problems of

pest resistance or resurgence

Increased consumer confidence in the

safety and quality of food and fiber
products

New opportunities for established and

novel products, techniques and services
Longer product lifecycles

Decreased resistance of pests to crop

protection products and biotech plants

Increased public confidence in, and

credibility of, the crop protection industry

IPM Components
IPM requires competence in three areas: prevention, monitoring and intervention.

PREVENTION

MONITORING

INTERVENTION

Prevent the
build-up of pests
Includes a range
of practical strategies
that suit local conditions.

Monitor crops for both pests

and natural control mechanisms
Involves scouting for pests
(insects, diseases and weeds)
to determine if, when and how
intervention should occur.

Intervene when control

measures are needed
Involves physical, biological
and chemical methods to preserve
the economic value of crops with
minimal effects on the environment.

understand
conditions

inspect
fields

choose
method

select
varieties

identify
issues

plan
approach

manage
crops

determine
action

intervene
responsibly

IPM C OMPONENT S

Prevention
Many aspects of crop management are designed to prevent
initial outbreaks of insects, diseases or weeds. Practical
strategies (outlined below) can be combined and optimized
for an IPM program. The goal is to prevent pest populations
from building up to economically damaging levels.

CROP LOCATION
Growing crops in locations where they are best
suited to climate, soil and topography provides
them with optimal conditions from the start.
Appropriate land preparation builds on these
conditions.

VARIETY SELECTION
Choosing beneficial crop varieties, such as those
with disease and pest resistance, has always
been a cornerstone of IPM. These varieties can be
derived from traditional cross-breeding or modern
biotechnology: pest-resistant and herbicide-tolerant
varieties, for example, may reduce the need for
other crop protection measures. Biotech crops can
also facilitate reduced or no-till practices, helping
to maintain soil health and prevent erosion.

STRATEGIC PLANTING
AND CROP ROTATION
Planting similar crops alongside each other can
substantially increase pests and should be avoided
if possible.
Traditionally, some farmers sow different crops in
alternate rows or undersow a crop like maize
with a legume such as cowpea to help improve
soil fertility and reduce weeds. Such systems can
help reduce pests.

Growing different crops in rotation also helps

reduce the build-up of pests, especially those in
the soil such as root-feeding insects and fungi.
Rotations can reduce weed problems and
increase the range of weed control methods that
can be used.

IP M C OMPONEN T S

SOIL MANAGEMENT

OPTIMIZING PLANT NUTRITION

Mechanical, physical and cultural crop protection

methods prevent or minimize pests as well as reduce
their build-up and carryover from one crop to
another. For example, traditional ploughing (tillage)
turns the soil and buries crop residue and weeds
before the seed bed is prepared for the next crop.

Different soil types contain varying amounts of

However, tillage has led to increased erosion as

well as loss of soil moisture and organic material.
In many countries, there has been a trend towards
reducing tillage and using herbicide-tolerant biotech
crops. This has led to increased practice of direct
drilling in Europe and no-till in the United States and
Canada. As a result, soil erosion problems have been
greatly reduced.

WATER MANAGEMENT
Supplying water to crops is essential to plant
health but it can greatly influence pest incidence
and impact. Irrigation may be required, especially in
dry areas or with crops that require a lot of
moisture. But while flood irrigating some crops,
such as lowland rice, can control weeds, it is
wasteful of water and can adversely affect
beneficial soil organisms. Methods to combat these
risks and conserve water include drip irrigation or
growing crops on ridges or raised beds.

nutrients. At harvest, nutrients are removed with a

crop from the soil. In order to maintain or improve
soil fertility, these nutrients have to be replaced
with mineral and/or organic fertilizers. These
products must be applied at the right time in the
correct amounts to optimize soil health. New plant
varieties with more efficient uptake of nutrients
should be considered.

HARVESTING AND STORAGE

Carryover of weed seeds and disease-causing
organisms can be reduced with good harvesting,
seed cleaning and storage methods.

PRESERVING BIODIVERSITY
Protecting natural habitats near farmland is the best
way to conserve biodiversity, including many natural
pest enemies. Careful management of farmland
edges, including trees and hedges, is important
for wildlife habitats, providing cover and refuge for
beneficial insects and animals (e.g., field bunds in
rice paddies provide refuge for predatory spiders
that help control several insects).

Monitoring
Observing crops determines if, when and what action should be
taken to maximize crop production and quality. Decisionmaking tools range from pegboards to computers and trained
local experts to remote-sensing technologies. Getting real-time
information on what is happening in the field is ideal.
Management of any crop requires routine inspections
to assess how well plants are growing and what
actions need to be taken from seeding to harvest.
Walking through a field involves scouting for
pests and distinguishing them from non-pests and
beneficial insects. Tools like pheromone traps,
diagnostics and forecasting systems can assist with
such monitoring in a timely and accurate way.

IPM often requires collaborative decisions within

a specific geography to provide effective control
of pests. Some of these decisions need to be taken
by national governments in relation to quarantine
regulations and legislation, provision and training of
advisory services and strategies for control of highly
mobile pests like locusts. Geographic information
systems and remote-sensing techniques can also
assist in area-wide management.

Intervention
Reducing economically damaging pests to acceptable levels
may involve cultural, physical, biological and chemical control
measures individually or in combination. Costs, benefits, timing,
labor force and equipment as well as economic, environmental
and social impacts all have to be taken into consideration.

CULTURAL AND PHYSICAL METHODS

These techniques, such as weed control by tractor
cultivation or disease control by removing infected
plant debris, should be assessed for their impact on
plant roots and yields as well as their
requirements for labor and energy. Also, the
possibility of integrating cultural techniques with
the careful use of crop protection products should
be explored. For example, instead of replacing
manual weeding entirely with herbicides, hoeing
may be used in conjunction with them.

BIOLOGICAL CONTROL
Research on natures own methods of pest control
is yielding new products and methods that can be
used in IPM programs. Many of these require similar
technical expertise as crop protection products in
relation to formulation, field application and
resistance management.
8

These controls include introducing beneficial

insects or predators; applying micro-organisms
such as viruses, fungi and bacteria; and using
pheromones to lure, trap and kill or interfere with
insects mating habits.
Using beneficial insects to control pests works best
when crops are grown in controlled environments
like greenhouses and plastic tunnels. There are cases
when control techniques with living organisms are
successful in open field conditions, such as
using predatory mites against spider mites.
However, biological control products are usually
only efficient at low pest intensities and other
interventions are often required.
Bacteria, fungi, nematodes or viruses have also
been mass produced to control some pests. The
most common and successful is Bacillus thuringiensis
(Bt), a naturally occurring bacterium, which has

IP M C OMPONEN T S

been used to control several important pests

(e.g., caterpillar pests in vegetables, vineyards
and orchards). With modern biotechnology, crops
like corn and cotton can now express the insect
toxin produced by this natural control agent,
delivering it more effectively.
Finally, the development and availability of insect
sex pheromones and other behavior-modifying
chemicals offer farmers the possibility of:

Selective trapping techniques to monitor

the movement of pests or changes in their
populations during the season
Lure and kill strategies to attract the pest
to insecticide deposits and reduce the need
for overall crop spraying
Mating disruption that slows population
build-up to delay or reduce the need
for control treatments

Biotechnology also has considerable potential to

contribute to IPM. One focus of research has been
on mass production of micro-organisms that cause
disease in insect pests and weeds or compete with
plant disease-causing organisms. The second and
most rapidly expanding area of biotechnology for
pest control has been the development of crop
varieties resistant to pests and diseases and/or
tolerant to herbicides. These varieties incorporate
insect or disease resistance within the plant for
accurate and timely delivery of an active ingredient.

CHEMICAL CONTROL
Chemical crop protection products (pesticides) are
biologically active chemicals that control a range
of insect and vertebrate pests, diseases and weeds.
They are often the most cost-effective way of
controlling infestations as part of an IPM strategy.
Todays crop protection products are the result of
more than 50 years of research, development and
field experience around the world by the plant
science industry.
Before crop protection products are released in the
market, they are thoroughly tested for their safety,
usefulness and effectiveness. When sold, they are
labeled with explicit use instructions.
To get the most out of these products, they must
be applied correctly. Responsible use and good
handling practices limit potential pesticide residues
in crops and the environment as well as help avoid
pest resurgence and resistance.
Improved application techniques and equipment,
such as reduced drift nozzles and spot spraying,
help farmers protect untreated refuges (e.g.,
hedgerows and field margins) and natural habitats
for wildlife and pest enemies. The timing of
treatment (season and time of day) as well as the
types of products used are also critical factors.

IPM Strategies and Tools

IPM includes the development and use of chemical, natural,
biological and biotech products for pest control. It may also
involve computer-aided sampling and decision-making as
well as improved farm equipment.

Farmers are the primary decision-makers

in IPM programs. Individually or collectively,
they have to decide how to manage all pests
that may damage crops. The role of the plant
science industry is to provide access to a wide
range of useful technologies, products,
services and as much information as possible
on their characteristics, costs, specificities
and optimal use strategies. Most farmers will
combine different IPM tactics and tools.
As a prerequisite to developing an IPM
program, it is important to understand
farmers perceptions of pest problems and
their current practices of pest control. IPM
recommendations must be flexible enough
to adjust to changes in the environment,
cropping patterns and market forces. The
socio-economic effects of IPM components
must also be examined. For example, the use
of herbicides reduces farm labor but may
contribute to urban migration. On the other
hand, manual weeding is time-consuming,
labor-intensive and not always possible to
perform at the right time. This is problematic
since yields of some crops suffer due to
late weeding and root damage.

10

SETTING AN ECONOMIC THRESHOLD

The extent of economic losses can vary significantly between
seasons, depending on weather conditions and other factors.
Since the severity of pest infestations varies, it is generally far
better to monitor pest populations or the damage they cause
before deciding to use a crop protection product or other
intervention. Once an infestation has reached an economic
thresholdthe point at which the pest population level causes
losses greater than the cost of controlling the pestit is time to
intervene. Alternatively, modelling, for example based on weather
conditions, can indicate the need to intervene before the pest
reaches the economic threshold (e.g., late blight in potato).
One difficulty with the use of an economic threshold as a
decision tool is that it depends on the value of the crop.
Income from the sale of crops can change rapidly based on
supply and demand in local markets. The threshold is also
dependent on pest populations and the stage of crop
development at which
it occurs. This matters because many crops can compensate
for some damage during part of their growth cycle. Pestresistant varieties can reduce the severity of an infestation, but
pest populations must still be monitored to see if additional
intervention is required.
Farmers need simple methods for quickly determining whether
a pest population in a crop is likely to cause economic damage.
Local knowledge can be used to help develop practical methods
acceptable to farmers. In some regions, it may be possible to
develop local databases to assist in making decisions on an
area-wide basis.

Farmers and
their advisors can
use a range of
technologies in
IPM programs.
Selecting them
requires
appropriate tools,
knowledge and
expertise like:

WHEN
AND HOW
to manage pests

PROTECTING NATURAL ENEMIES

Conserving natural enemies of pests is an important part of
IPM and helps to prevent pest resurgence. The effect of a
crop protection product or other intervention on both pests
and their natural enemies needs to be considered. Timing
product application to periods when natural enemies are not
active, for example, may help protect them. Maintaining
minimum pest and non-pest populations for natural enemies to
feed on may be essential for their survival. Research should
also assess the
importance of weeds and other local plants that may encourage
survival of beneficial species at field edges.
Populations of beneficial species can recover quite quickly,
even when broad-spectrum products are used and particularly
if they are easily degradable. This occurs with the migration
and recolonization of sprayed areas from refuge areas at
field margins. It is also possible to physically limit the impact
of broad-spectrum products; part of a crop area can be left
untreated to allow natural enemies to survive and recolonize
the treated areas.

RESPONSIBLE
USE of crop
protection
products

11

I P M S T R AT E G I E S A N D T O O L S

SELECTING THE RIGHT PRODUCTS

In developing an IPM program with crop protection
products, it is essential to review product
characteristics, applications and costs, then select
the ones that provide the most cost-effective
treatment with minimal undesirable effects. Some
products have a broad spectrum of activity, while
others only target a few types of pests. Selective
substances are less likely to affect natural enemies
and other non-target organisms, but they are often
more expensive and less widely available. When
they are available, it is important to determine if
fewer applications of them are more cost-effective
than a cheaper, broad-spectrum product that
requires more applications. Seed treatments,
which protect seedlings from early pests, are also
beneficial and may prevent the need for crop
protection product applications later on. They

minimize the impact of crop protection products

as the active ingredient is often within the plant
where beneficial species do not come into contact.
Most crop protection products have a broad
spectrum of activity and its important to distinguish
between their intrinsic toxicity and bioavailability
the degree to which the active ingredient is absorbed
or becomes available to pests in the field. While an
active ingredient may be toxic to a range of insects,
it may not be bioavailable to non-pests. For example,
when an active ingredient is contained within plants
(Bt biotech crops), it does not impact species that
do not eat the plant. Also, how crop protection
products are applied and how long they remain in the
environment matters. For instance, compounds that
penetrate plant leaves and degrade quickly on leaf
surfaces may have a minimal impact on non-pests.

USING PRODUCTS RESPONSIBLY AND SAFELY

Every crop protection product should be used
according to manufacturer recommendations.
These are designed to provide reliable control
under normal field conditions. They also provide
instructions on how to handle and apply the

applications, the spray runs down the tops of leaves

and drips onto the soil. This wasted spray can have
serious adverse effects on soil-dwelling natural
enemies, especially spiders and ants. When farmers
see pests surviving, they will often spray crops as
frequently as twice a week instead
of investing in better equipment or

Mindful farming practices, such as directing crop

protection spray to the undersides of leaves where
insects are located, can better control pests.

product safely. Recommended doses should be

used to control pests and prevent them from
developing resistance to products. Guidelines on
the appropriate storage, transport and disposal of
unused products and empty containers should also
be strictly followed.
Targeted and timely application of crop
protection products is key to effective and
efficient pest control. This requires the use of
appropriate and well maintained equipment as well
as knowledge
of pests. Many insects can survive under the
umbrella of leaves if farmers only spray leaf tops
by holding the nozzle above the crop. In excessive

changing their spraying practices

or products. Simple changes in
farming practices like directing the
nozzle to spray where the pest is
located on the undersides of leaves
or controlling spray pressure can

improve crop protection product coverage and

better control pests.
Some farmers spray late or alter the dose because of
difficulties in obtaining sufficient water to spray,
especially in semi-arid and dry areas. However,
there are reduced volume techniques that allow
farmers
to treat pests more quickly when their population
reaches the economic threshold. In other situations,
granule application is more appropriate as the
product can be localized to the root of a crop or in
the funnel of maize plants.

12

I P M S T R AT E G I E S A N D T O O L S

PREVENTING PEST RESISTANCE

TO CROP PROTECTION PRODUCTS
All farmers are challenged with the fact that pests
adapt to active ingredients and eventually become
resistant to them without prevention strategies.
IPM offers a range of ways to reduce the risk of
resistance developing. This includes monitoring
pest populations, applying treatments when the
economic threshold is reached and implementing
strategies, such as alternating or mixing compatible
crop protection products or biotech seeds with
different modes of action.
To prevent or delay the onset of resistance, farmers
or pest control advisors need to understand target
pest biology and ecology; the efficacy of the crop
protection product and the pests sensitivity to it;
stacked versus single insecticidal traits; product usage
patterns; local cropping systems; and the availability
of alternative pest management options, including
biotech, chemical, biological and cultural controls.
Biotech insect-protected crops express proteins
for insect control internally, offering excellent
protection from damaging pests around the world.
These crops can also offer superior environmental
benefits while increasing grower income. Given
this value, insect resistance management is
essential. Strategies include planting refuge
areas that dont contain biotech traits; scouting
and applying crop protection products as needed;
rotating different modes of action; restricting the
use of a single insect control protein across multiple
crops; destroying crop residues; using locally
adapted crop varieties with native resistance; and
combining multiple traits targeting the same pests
within a plant.
The continued development of novel active
ingredients for crop protection products and
new biotech traits will expand the resistance
management tools available to farmers.
Additional tools will help manage pests
economically and sustainably while protecting the
effectiveness
and value of all control options.

13

Plant Science Industry and IPM

The global plant science industry has a major role to play in
the widespread adoption of IPM. This requires mutual support,
partnerships and collaboration with governments, non-government
organizations and research companies; international, national and
local agricultural associations; crop protection product distributors,
dealers and retailers; and, of course, farmers themselves.

THE PLANT SCIENCE INDUSTRY

SUPPORTS IPM IMPLEMENTATION
through research, development, technology
transfer, education and training.

To further develop IPM technologies and promote their use, the plant science industry can help by:

Integrating IPM awareness and

principles into business plans and
product development strategies

Supporting screening programs to monitor

the effects of crop protection products on
natural enemies and the environment

Developing IPM skills and understanding

among stakeholders

Training and educating agricultural staff:

With practical programs for farmers, distributors,

dealers, advisors, agricultural schools and farm
families as well as management, marketing, sales,
and technical staff

Establishing IPM demonstration sites and farms

Researching and developing new

products and technologies, including:

14

Crop protection products with

new, specific active ingredients

Chemicals that modify pest behavior

Safer and more effective formulations

and seed treatments

Including IPM technical literature

and educational materials

Biotech and biological control products

that can be used in IPM

Integrating marketing and sales performance

incentives with IPM success.

Diagnostic tools and pest

population forecasting systems

Improved product application and safety to reduce

spray drift, run-off and leaching into ground water

Offering marketing materials and sales services:

Participating in local projects that promote

IPM, including those supported by the United
Nations Food and Agriculture Organization,
World Bank, other development banks, donor
agencies, non-government organizations and
private sector players

The global CropLife network has over

340 IPM PARTNERSHIPS worldwide.

STEWARDSHIP AND TRAINING

Long-term and sustainable adoption of IPM by
farmers will only occur if they get information
about it along with the tools and technologies
to implement it. To this end, the plant science
industry is actively engaged in farmer training
and capacity building programs around the
world, including partnerships with the public
sector. Key components include:

Training technical and teaching staff, who

may teach advisory and sales staff about IPM.

Training government, private extension

staff as well as crop protection product
and seed distributors and retailers.

Its important farmers receive consistent

messages from more than one source and all
stakeholders are on the same page.

These people directly influence farmers

and need to be able to provide practical
advice about IPM.

Developing education and training

programs for farmers.

Practical ways of reaching farmers may include

field schools, mass and social media, newsletters,
direct mail, videos and posters.

AS PART OF
AN ONGOING
COMMITMENT
to stewardship,
the plant science
industry trains
farmers on IPM
best practices.

A major goal of the training is to maximize

product benefits and minimize their risks. Such
training covers all aspects of handling and storing
crop protection products, as well as when to use
and when not to use them, including how to:

Identify pests and beneficial insects

Assess risk of pest populations and

potential crop damage

Manage pests according to IPM principles

Apply crop products safely and

effectively if required

Avoid unacceptable risks to

people and the environment

Minimize product residues on crops

and monitor for pest resistance

Store products safely and properly

dispose of empty containers

Responsible use training is carried out by our

association network in more than 70 countries. As
of 2013, more than 2.5 million farm workers, along
with other groups, such as extension agents and
trainers, have received training from the CropLife
International network. These people then go on
to inform or train more people, resulting in a
significant multiplier effect.
Adoption of IPM is growing fast in both developed
and developing countries due to the desire to
achieve sustainable agriculture at national and
international levels. IPM is supported by all major
stakeholders involved in sustainable development
from governments to donor agencies. In fact,
legislation is increasingly being used by governments
to support integration of IPM into farming practices.
Thats because IPM is the future of farming.

Since 2005 CropLife International IPM programs

have trained over

2 MILLION individuals

15

CA SE S TUDIES

Thailand Boosts
Fruit Exports with IPM
Thailand is a major fruit-exporting country with the European Union
alone enjoying over 20 percent of its exports. To maintain and grow
exports, applying internationally accepted IPM and good agricultural
practices are essential to Thailands success.

16

However, thousands of the countrys small fruit

farmers used to struggle with poor yields and many
lacked knowledge of global safety standards for
exportation. They used to apply crop protection
products excessively and ineffectively. They had
little knowledge of proper product use, personal
safety and environmental protection. The results
were low yields, high costs and unacceptable risks of
crop protection product exposure.

the responsible use of crop protection products

in Chantaburi. This success continued with 3,650
farmers trained in Phitsanulok in one year.

Over the years, the Thai Crop Protection Association

(TCPA) and Thailands Ministry of Agriculture and
Cooperatives Department of Agricultural
Extension have helped small-scale farmers bridge
the knowledge gap. For example, in two years,
almost 37,200 farmers were trained on IPM and

As of 2012, TCPA staff had trained a total of

123,550 farmers and 1,720 crop protection product
retailers on IPM and good agricultural practices.
These efforts have greatly improved Thailand
agriculture, exports and protection of farm
workers and the environment.

To help farmers retain their lessons, the master

trainers distributed 7,000 responsible use manuals,
and 10,000 related posters. TCPA also held
eight exhibitions on the responsible use of crop
protection products.

Guatemala Pioneers Responsible Use Training

More than 20 years ago, CropLife International selected Guatemala
as a pilot country for farmer training on the management of crop
protection products.
Agrequima, the crop protection association
of Guatemala and a member of CropLife Latin
America, was established shortly thereafter. Its
mission is to improve domestic agriculture under
the CuidAgro program, which trains farmers on
IPM and the responsible use and storage of crop
protection products as well as certifies qualified
product applicators.
Since 1991, Agrequima has trained close to 800,000
farmers. It works with 14 partner organizations
to reach tens of thousands of farmers annually.
In 2012, for example, Agrequima trained about
50,000 farmers.
A professional staff of agronomists helped
Agrequima design its own training program
adapted to local conditions. In 1997,
Agrequima

entered into an agreement with the Guatemalan

Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food to train
farmers on the responsible use of crop protection
products at a national level. Today, the demand for
farmer training continues to grow.
CuidAgro teaches farmers how to farm more
efficiently, protecting their health and the
environment. Surplus crops from increased
productivity can be sold and increase household
income. In addition, farmers who complete
responsible use training earn a certificate from
Agrequima that confirms they have undergone
training in crop management. This satisfies the
requirements of an international certification
body and export companies that the farmer
skills have been tested.

West Africa Protects Cocoa with Spray Service

Crop protection products are critical to the
management of pests and disease in cocoa
crops in West Africa, which produces about
70 percent of the worlds cocoa.
The responsible use of these products is important
to help farmers maximize crop production while
minimizing product use and waste. Spraying
requires specific skills and farmers need training on
how to apply crop protection products properly.
To address this need, CropLife Africa Middle East,
in partnership with the World Cocoa Foundation,
has initiated a program to train small-scale cocoa
farmers and registered crop protection product
dealers as Spray Service Providers (SSPs) in
Cameroon, Cte dIvoire, Ghana and Nigeria. SSPs
receive special training to properly understand IPM
and then hire out their services to fellow farmers.
The objectives of the training are to improve
responsible use of crop protection products by
establishing a network of SSPs; improve farmer
accessibility to these products by linking SSPs to

product dealers; properly plan and manage stocks of

these products; and provide a network to implement
an empty container management program.
With support from the World Cocoa Foundation,
CropLife Africa Middle East expects to train about
3,200 SSPs over two years. These SSPs, in turn, will
help 40,000 farmers increase their crop production.
17

CA SE S TUDIES

Indian Farmers Benefit from IPM Training

For farmers in the Adoni region of Andhra Pradesh, India,
training on IPM has made a dramatic difference.

18

The Training Through Local Partnerships program

was the result of a 2010 collaboration between
CropLife International, CropLife Asia and CropLife
India and two local Indian organizations. It
incorporates activities such as inspecting crops,
identifying beneficial insects, when to use and
when not to use crop protection products, wearing
personal protection equipment, safely storing
crop protection products and triple rinsing
empty product containers.

81,000 farmers. A total of 101,000 farmers were

reached through this grassroots program with
exponential impact.

93 percent of farmers were able to

identify beneficial insects following training
and 94 percent two years later

Collaborating with partners who understand local

needs, master trainers trained by CropLife
International directly train 5,000 farmers each year.
These farmers, in turn, train other farmers in their
community. In just four years since the program
began, 45 master trainers were able to train
20,000 farmers, who then trained an additional

95 percent consistently understood

pesticide labels right after training and
99 percent after two years

94 percent of farmers wore some personal

protective equipment immediately after
training and 100 percent two years later

98 percent consistently stored pesticides

safely immediately following training and
99 percent after two years

Farmer practices were evaluated immediately after

training and subsequently throughout the program
with increasing positive results, including:

Europe Helps Protect

Farmers and Public Health
The European Crop Protection Association launched its Safe and
Sustainable Use Initiative (SUI) to provide farmers and operators
with tools for the safe and effective use of crop protection products.
The industry-initiated program, now more than a
decade old, is an important example of how
knowledge transfer can spread good practices as
part of a wider IPM strategy.
Currently, the crop protection industry has projects
in 15 countriesSerbia, Portugal, Spain, France, Italy,
Greece, Bulgaria, Poland, Lithuania, Cyprus, Slovakia,
Croatia, Latvia, Turkey and Romania.
Before launching the SUI in a country, a baseline
survey analyses the situation on the ground.
Farmers are asked about their working methods,
what personal protective wear they use and what
their daily routine consists of in the field. This

information helps determine key factors of success

for each country. After a defined amount of time,
another survey is undertaken in order to verify the
uptake of the SUI recommendations. For example,
in Poland a follow-up survey in 2013 showed a large
increase in the number of orchard growers wearing
gloves, protective coveralls and face shields in tank
mix operations.
Regular monitoring of performance indicators has
shown that easy-to-implement best practices have
been taken up by crop protection product users
in a short amount of time, increasing protection of
human and environmental health.

19

CropLife International aisbl

Avenue Louise 326, Box 35
1050 Brussels, Belgium
Tel.: +32 2 542 04 10
croplife@croplife.org
www.croplife.org
Published 2014

CropLife International is the voice

of the global plant science industry.
It champions the role of agricultural
innovations in crop protection and
plant biotechnology in supporting
and advancing sustainable agriculture;
helping farmers feed a growing
population while looking after the
planet; and progressing rural
communities. The world needs
farmers and farmers need plant
science. CropLife International is
proud to be at the heart of helping
farmers grow.

Helping Farmers Grow